Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-01

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The refusal OF Mr.. Andrew ID. White,
ex-PresideGt of Cornell University, to per-
init himself TO be considered as willing
/ to accept an appointment on the Inter-
stats Commerce Commission is regarded
by some as an indication that there is
growing dislnclination among men of the
highest character and ability to have any
thing to do with political offices. The New
York World, for instance, says that "Mr.
Whites unwillingness to accept one Of
the Interstate Commerce Commissioner
ships illustrates the growing unwilling
ness Of citizens OF the first rank in ability
| and character to accept public posi-
TONS"
Is it true that the ablest and best men
of the country are averse TO accepting
Office: There are doubtless among those
who are applicants for The Interstate
Commerce Commissionerships many who
are the equal OF Mr.. White in every re-
spect. Mr.. White does not say that be
doesn't want to take a political Office.
On the contrary, he says that he would
gladly accept place on the commission
If he could do so without neglecting i'm.
portant duties which he has engaged to
perform. There is no doubt that if he
had nothing better he would accept an
appointment to political Office OF i'm
pOrtance without hesitation, although he
may not want to be an Interstate Com
merce Commissioner.
The truth doubtless is that he sees very
plainly that there is great doubt about
what the interstate commerce law really
means, and that to administer 1t will re-
quire not only a great deal of hard work
and patience. but that the Commissioners
will be greatly abused if they fail to make
the law work smoothly.
The traffic agents who have been study
ing the law very carefully are wholly in
doubt about the meaning OF the really I'M
portant parts of 1t. 1t is pretty certain
that they put construction upon it that
is entirely different from that which many
of the leading Congressman place upon it.
II the commission adopts either construc-
ton it is certain 10 have a worrying time.
But, outside of the difficulties which
surround the main portions OF the bill,
| there are great many questions of the
very first Importance, which will be con-
stantly thrust upon the commissions at
tention. These questions will be found
| almost as difficult to answer satlsfactor-
lily as it is for boy who has Just begun
the study OF arithmetic to solve problem
in calculus.
1t is not believed to be possible to make
general rules that will meet even a ma
jOrity of the cases which will present
themselves. Each case will have to be
taken up and settled upon its merits. 1t
will be impossible, therefore, to avoid
dealing little more literally with one
road than another. The result will be
that the unavoidable discrimination
will be source of dissatisfaction. No,
there Is no hesitation on the part Of men
OF first-class ability and character to ac-
cept political Offices when they haven't
already something better, but there are
no doubt men like Mr.. White who do not
care to undertake to assist In administer
ing the interstate commerce law, because
they don't want to shoulder the RESPONSE
bilties the administration of it involves,
and don't want to endure the harsh crlti-
cism to which they would be subjected.